Crypto World
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Crypto News & Price Indexes
Ethereum has hit a zone typically associated with mass selling, with an MVRV Z-Score returning a score of -0.42 — though analysts are split on whether the price of Ether is close to bottoming out.
The MVRV Z-Score is a metric used to assess whether a crypto asset is overvalued or undervalued by comparing its market value to its realized value, which reflects the total value of Ether based on the price at which it was last transacted.
The metric was created to identify periods of market euphoria or capitulation when market value was considerably higher or lower than realized value.
CryptoQuant analyst and Alphractal founder and CEO, Joao Wedson, said the score “shows that Ethereum is indeed going through a clear capitulation process.”
However, the analyst said the data “does not compare to the intensity” seen at the major bottoms of the 2018 and 2022 bear markets.
The lowest value in history was -0.76, recorded in December 2018, said Wedson.

Further downsides for ETH prices possible
The analyst cautioned that further downsides could be possible before any meaningful recovery.
“The market is already under stress, but historically, there is still room for further downside before a definitive structural bottom is formed,” he said.
The price of Ether has fallen 30% over the past fortnight, reaching a bear market low of $1,825 on Friday before a minor recovery to $2,100 on Monday.
Related: Tom Lee tips lack of leverage and gold ‘vortex’ for Ether’s 21% slump
HashKey Group senior researcher Tim Sun told Cointelegraph that historically, Ethereum’s MVRV Z-Score “has proven to be a highly reliable indicator for tracking subsequent market shifts, particularly in identifying bottoming zones across multiple cycles.”
“Judging by on-chain activity, protocol evolution, and long-term ecosystem structure, Ethereum’s fundamentals have not seen any substantive deterioration. On the contrary, they continue to improve across several key dimensions,” he said.
However, it is premature to conclude that Ether has finished its bottoming process as long as the primary drivers of the current decline persist, he added.
“Given the potential liquidity constraints associated with the upcoming April tax season, the probability of further price downside remains a significant factor.”
One of the best “buy fear” windows for Ether
Other market commentators, such as MN Fund founder Michaël van de Poppe, were a little more optimistic, stating, “I think that this is a tremendous opportunity to be looking at ETH.”
“The core reason for this is that there’s a massive gap to the ‘fair price,’” he said, referring to the MVRV ratio.
Ether is currently as undervalued as it was during the April 2025 crash, the June 2022 bottom after the Terra/Luna collapse, the March 2020 Covid crash, and the December 2018 bear market bottom.
“In all of those cases, this provided a tremendous buying opportunity for this particular asset.”
Andri Fauzan Adziima, research lead at crypto trading platform Bitrue, told Cointelegraph that negative MVRV zones “have repeatedly preceded explosive recoveries in past cycles.”
“With ETH’s network metrics holding strong, it feels like a prime long-term accumulation setup once the weak hands are fully flushed,” he said.
“Brutal capitulation now, but historically one of the best ‘buy fear’ windows for ETH.”

Magazine: Bitcoin difficulty plunges, Buterin sells off Ethereum: Hodler’s Digest
Crypto World
I’m not confident we hit a true capitulation in bitcoin, derivatives expert says
About a week ago, bitcoin dropped more than 10% in a day to around $60,000 before rebounding to $70,000 in recent days. The question is, did the slide mark “capitulation,” when holders panic-sell at a loss, exhaust bearish pressure and set the stage for a new bull run?
The futures market says no, suggesting there’s scope for another leg lower, according to Amberdata’s director of derivatives, Greg Magadini.
“[The] lack of ‘reaction’ in the futures basis doesn’t make me confident we hit a true CAPITULATION moment,” Magadini said in a market note Monday.
Magadini is referring to how futures typically trade in relation to the spot price during bearish trends and capitulation phases.
Futures are standardised derivative contracts to buy or sell an underlying asset, like bitcoin, at a set price on a future date. Traders use futures to bet on price direction, buying contracts when they expect a rally or shorting when they anticipate a decline, without actually owning the asset itself.
The price difference, or basis, between futures and spot markets reveals market sentiment and trader positioning. When futures trade at a significant premium to spot prices, it signals bullish optimism among investors. Conversely, a discount indicates bearish pressure.
Historically, bitcoin bear markets have tended to bottom out, with standard futures and perpetual futures trading at significant discounts to spot on major exchanges. These massive discounts represented capitulation and mark the final bear-market flush.
Last week, however, futures slipped into a discount only for a short time.
“Although the 90-day basis dropped lower on each leg down for BTC, these moves barely ranged -100bps. Today, fixed basis remains around 4% for BTC (inline with risk-free treasury yields),” Magadini said.
Compare that with the end of the 2022 bear market, when the 90-day futures traded at a 9% discount as the bitcoin price bottomed out below 20,000. So, if history is a guide, bitcoin could see another leg lower where futures traders capitulate, pushing prices into a steep discount relative to the spot price.
Bitcoin recently changed hands near $69,000, a 1% drop since midnight UTC, according to CoinDesk data.
Crypto World
BitMine’s Tom Lee Makes Bold Ethereum Price Prediction for 2026
BitMine Immersion Technologies purchased more than 40,000 Ethereum (ETH) in a single day, continuing its aggressive accumulation strategy even as unrealized losses rise to over $7 billion.
The latest accumulation comes as Ethereum continues to trend downwards, with prices down approximately 62% from 2025 highs. Despite this, BitMine Chairman Tom Lee has expressed confidence in a potential V-shaped recovery for Ethereum.
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BitMine Adds Over 40,000 ETH to Its Treasury
In a recent press release, BitMine disclosed that it acquired 40,613 ETH last week. As of February 8, 2026, at 3:00 pm ET, the company’s total Ethereum holdings stood at 4.325 million.
The announcement appeared to boost investor sentiment. BitMine’s stock, BMNR, closed at $21.45 on February 9, marking a 4.79% increase by the end of the trading session.
BitMine’s accumulation did not stop there. On-chain analytics platform Lookonchain reported additional Ethereum purchases after the disclosure.
According to the data, the firm first acquired 20,000 ETH through FalconX, followed by another 20,000 ETH, worth approximately $42.3 million, via BitGo.
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“Today alone, it has bought 40,000 ETH ($83.4 million),” Lookonchain wrote.
ETH Declines Sharply as BitMine Treats Pullback as Entry Point
The continued buying suggests that BitMine remains committed to expanding its Ethereum treasury, even amid market uncertainty. According to data from BeInCrypto Markets, ETH has dropped 13.2% over the past week.
At the time of writing, the second-largest cryptocurrency traded at $2,012, down 3.28% over the past day.
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Lee suggested that the company views the price pullback as a strategic buying opportunity, citing improving network fundamentals.
He also noted network strength despite falling prices. Ethereum daily transactions hit 2.5 million and active addresses reached 1 million in 2026, as stated in BitMine’s official announcement. These figures imply rising adoption regardless of market swings.
“In our view, the price of ETH is not reflective of the high utility of ETH and its role as the future of finance,” he said.
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Furthermore, Lee pointed to Ethereum’s historical price behavior to support his optimism. Since 2018, ETH has experienced 8 separate declines of 50% or more from recent highs.
He highlighted a similar pattern in 2025, when Ethereum fell by 64% between January and March before rallying sharply later in the year. At the time, it surged from approximately $1,600 to nearly $5,000.
According to Lee, Ethereum has historically staged V-shaped recoveries following major downturns. He stated that such rebounds occurred after each of the previous 8 drawdowns. Based on this trend, he expects a comparable recovery to unfold in 2026.
“The best investment opportunities in crypto have presented themselves after declines. Think back to 2025, the single best entry points in crypto occurred after markets fell sharply due to tariff concerns,” Lee stated.
Whether BitMine’s aggressive Ethereum bet will pay off remains uncertain for now. Its ability to withstand market weakness, alongside strong staking revenue, could generate significant advantages if a V-shaped recovery appears. But ongoing price declines or a prolonged market slump may further challenge BitMine’s strategy.
Crypto World
Crypto Token Development & ICO Software Development Guide
If you are reading this, you are not looking to launch “just another token.” You are building a serious digital asset venture with real fundraising goals and long-term ambition. This guide was written for founders who want clarity before committing capital, time, and reputation. It breaks down how crypto token development should be approached when the end goal is investor trust, regulatory alignment, and sustainable fundraising. By following this roadmap, you learn how to:
- Design a crypto business model that investors can evaluate and trust
- Build a secure, scalable token infrastructure that passes audits and due diligence
- Prepare your project for regulatory and institutional review
- Structure an ICO that attracts quality investors instead of short-term speculators
- Deploy professional fundraising platforms that reduce operational risk
- Manage capital responsibly and protect long-term value after fundraising
More importantly, this guide shows you how to think like your future investors. You now understand what decision-makers look for before backing a project, how risks are evaluated, and why execution quality determines fundraising outcomes. Instead of guessing, experimenting, or relying on hype, you have a structured framework to move from idea to investable venture with confidence. If your goal is serious capital, long-term credibility, and scalable growth, this is the foundation you build on.
Understanding the Foundation of Token-Based Business Models
Before writing code, founders must define how their project creates real value. A fundable crypto business model answers five critical questions:
- What problem does the token solve?
- Who are the primary users?
- How does the ecosystem generate revenue?
- Why will users hold or use the token?
- How does demand scale over time?
Professional token development begins with aligning token utility to business outcomes. Tokens should support governance, access, rewards, or infrastructure, rather than exist only for speculation. Investors prioritize projects where token economics reflect long-term platform growth. Without a strong business model, even technically sound projects struggle to raise capital. Weak fundamentals often lead to low investor confidence and poor long-term adoption.
At this stage, founders should also analyze competitors, market size, and regulatory exposure. A well-defined economic foundation increases investor confidence and reduces the need for future pivots. Many teams also rely on structured Token Development Services to validate their models and ensure that business strategy, technology, and compliance remain aligned from the start.
Check If Your Project Is Investor-Ready
Planning Your Cryptocurrency Before Writing Code
Once the business model is clear, development begins. Building a reliable token requires structured technical planning and disciplined execution. This is where professional token development services play a critical role in translating strategy into a secure, scalable infrastructure that supports long-term growth.
At this stage, founders must focus on building systems that are not only functional but also resilient under real-world usage and investor scrutiny. Key development components include:
1. Token Architecture
- Supply structure
- Issuance model
- Burn or inflation controls
- Governance logic
- Reserve management
A well-designed token architecture ensures that supply dynamics remain predictable and transparent. It also prevents excessive dilution and protects early investors.
2. Smart Contracts
- Modular design
- Upgrade mechanisms
- Emergency controls
- Treasury management
- Access permissions
Smart contracts form the operational backbone of your cryptocurrency. They must be written with security, flexibility, and compliance in mind. Poorly written contracts often become long-term liabilities.
3. Infrastructure
- Testnet deployment
- Integration pipelines
- Gas optimization
- Performance testing
- Monitoring systems
Robust infrastructure allows teams to identify weaknesses early and resolve them before public deployment. Testing environments are essential for validating transaction logic and platform stability. High-quality crypto token development ensures that contracts are audit-ready, scalable, and aligned with regulatory standards. It also improves interoperability with exchanges, wallets, and third-party platforms.
Security must be embedded from day one. Weak contracts expose projects to exploits, legal risk, and reputational damage, often ending fundraising efforts before they begin. This is why many serious founders partner with an experienced token development company that follows industry-standard security practices and formal audit processes. Strong technical foundations signal professionalism, reduce operational risk, and significantly improve investor confidence.
How Can You Prepare Your Cryptocurrency for Legal and Investor Approval?
After technical development, the next challenge is building legal credibility and investor trust through strong compliance systems and transparent operations. Before raising funds, projects must demonstrate full regulatory and operational readiness, including:
- Jurisdiction analysis and token classification reviews to ensure alignment with local securities and digital asset regulations.
- KYC and AML system integration to verify investor identity and prevent regulatory violations.
- Data protection and privacy compliance frameworks to safeguard user and investor information.
- Formal governance documentation defining decision-making authority and operational accountability.
Partnering with a reputable crypto token development company helps founders design compliant infrastructures that meet regulatory and institutional expectations. Investor approval depends on transparent documentation and verifiable disclosures, including:
- Legal opinions and independent audit reports to validate technical and regulatory integrity.
- Detailed whitepapers and risk disclosures outlining project structure, limitations, and obligations.
- Clearly defined treasury management policies to ensure responsible allocation and reporting of funds.
- Ongoing compliance monitoring to adapt to evolving regulatory requirements.
- Projects that delay legal preparation risk exchange listing delays, frozen assets, and enforcement actions.
In today’s market, regulatory readiness is a core fundraising requirement and a foundation of long-term investor confidence. The more regulatory frameworks your crypto complies with, the broader your global fundraising and growth opportunities become.
How Do You Structure and Launch a Successful ICO Token Sale?
Once your cryptocurrency is secure and compliant, the focus shifts from development to structured fundraising execution.
1. Fundraising Readiness
Professional ICO token development ensures that your token sale is transparent, scalable, and legally aligned with investor and exchange expectations.
2. Sale Phases
A successful ICO follows clearly defined fundraising stages to manage valuation and participation:
- Private rounds for early strategic investors
- Strategic rounds for institutional partners
- Public sales for community participation
3. Allocation Design
Balanced token allocation protects long-term value and investor confidence:
- Team vesting schedules to prevent early sell-offs
- Investor lockup periods to stabilize liquidity
- Ecosystem reserves to support sustainable growth
Plan Your ICO with Fundraising Experts
4. Pricing Strategy
Well-structured pricing models reflect market demand and project maturity:
- Fixed pricing for predictable valuation
- Dynamic valuation based on participation levels
- Demand-based tiers to incentivize early contributors
5. Investor Protection
Strong protection mechanisms reinforce trust and operational integrity:
- Refund logic to safeguard participant funds
- Oversubscription controls to manage excess demand.
- Allocation audits to ensure fair distribution
6. Execution Reliability
An experienced ICO token development company ensures that fundraising systems perform reliably under high transaction volumes and peak market activity. When these elements work together, token sales run smoothly, investor confidence remains strong, and projects build lasting credibility with exchanges and institutional partners.
What Platforms and Tools Are Best for Running a Secure ICO?
Modern ICOs require enterprise-grade technology that can handle high transaction volumes, strict compliance requirements, and real-time investor interactions. A professional ICO software development partner provides the infrastructure needed to manage fundraising securely, transparently, and at scale. It ensures that every transaction, allocation, and report remains accurate throughout the fundraising lifecycle.
At this stage, founders must prioritize system reliability, data security, and regulatory compatibility to avoid operational disruptions during live token sales. Core platform components include:
1. Investor Dashboard
- Wallet connectivity
- Contribution tracking
- Vesting overview
- Claim management
- Transaction history
The investor dashboard serves as the primary interface between participants and the fundraising platform. A clean, intuitive design improves trust and reduces support overhead.
2. Admin Console
- Sale configuration
- Compliance controls
- Allocation management
- Reporting systems
- Access permissions
The administrative console allows founders to manage fundraising operations efficiently while maintaining transparency and auditability.
3. Payment Layer
- Multi-chain support
- Stable coin acceptance
- Automated reconciliation
- Fiat gateway integration
- Liquidity routing
A robust payment layer ensures smooth capital inflows across multiple networks and currencies. It also simplifies financial reporting and treasury management. To accelerate deployment, many founders adopt white label ICO development solutions. These pre-tested frameworks reduce time-to-market while maintaining strong security standards and operational reliability.
When combined with tailored white label development, teams can customize branding, workflows, analytics, and third-party integrations without rebuilding core systems from scratch. The right platform improves investor experience, strengthens compliance posture, and significantly reduces operational risk during high-pressure fundraising campaigns.
How Do You Manage, Scale, and Protect Value After an ICO?
After an ICO, founders must shift immediately from fundraising mode to institutional-grade execution. This means implementing strict treasury governance, milestone-based capital deployment, and board-level financial oversight. Many teams continue working with their Token development company to maintain system security, upgrade infrastructure, and ensure long-term technical stability. Funds should be allocated against product development, compliance expansion, and market penetration objectives, with clear accountability at every stage. Regular investor briefings, third-party audits, and transparent performance reporting are essential to sustaining credibility with strategic backers and exchanges.
Scaling successfully requires more than feature releases. Leadership teams must focus on building defensible market positions through enterprise partnerships, regulatory alignment, and ecosystem integration. At the same time, liquidity management, risk controls, and community governance structures must be strengthened to protect long-term token value. Projects that maintain close coordination with experienced development and compliance partners are better positioned to adapt to market shifts and regulatory changes. Teams that treat post-ICO operations as a regulated financial enterprise, rather than a startup experiment, are the ones that attract institutional capital and achieve durable growth.
Plan Your ICO with Fundraising Experts
Conclusion: Build First, Raise Second, Scale Third
Great ideas alone do not raise capital. Execution does. Successful founders build secure products, follow regulatory frameworks, and launch fundraising campaigns with precision. This is where Antier becomes your competitive advantage. As a full-cycle token development company, Antier helps founders design strong token ecosystems, deploy compliant ICO platforms, and prepare projects for serious investor scrutiny. Every solution is built for scalability, transparency, and long-term value creation. With Antier, you move faster without sacrificing credibility. If you are preparing for fundraising in the next 1 to 2 months, now is the time to partner strategically.
Get your token and ICO strategy reviewed by Antier’s experts. Position your project for confident investor participation.
Frequently Asked Questions
01. What is the purpose of this guide for founders in the crypto space?
This guide aims to provide clarity and a structured roadmap for founders looking to build a serious digital asset venture, helping them design a viable business model, prepare for regulatory review, and attract quality investors.
02. What are the five critical questions a fundable crypto business model should answer?
A fundable crypto business model should address what problem the token solves, who the primary users are, how the ecosystem generates revenue, why users will hold or use the token, and how demand will scale over time.
03. Why is it important for tokens to have utility beyond speculation?
Tokens should support governance, access, rewards, or infrastructure to align with long-term platform growth, as investors prioritize projects with strong token economics, which enhances investor confidence and adoption.
Crypto World
Ethereum Adopts Zero-Knowledge Proof Validation in 2026 L1-zkEVM Roadmap Shift
TLDR:
- Ethereum EIP-8025 allows validators to verify blocks using ZK proofs instead of re-executing transactions
- zkAttesters can sync in minutes without holding execution layer state or running full EL clients
- The 3-of-5 proof threshold preserves client diversity while enabling proof-based block validation
- ePBS extends proving window to 6-9 seconds, making real-time proof generation feasible for L1-zkEVM
Ethereum is implementing a major architectural change in block validation, transitioning from transaction re-execution to zero-knowledge proof verification.
The L1-zkEVM 2026 roadmap introduces EIP-8025, which enables validators to confirm blocks through cryptographic proofs rather than running full execution clients.
This optional framework allows zkAttesters to verify blocks without maintaining execution layer state. The first L1-zkEVM workshop is set for February 11, 2026, at 15:00 UTC, marking the formal start of this development phase.
Technical Framework for Proof-Based Validation
The new validation pipeline operates through several coordinated steps. Execution layer clients generate an ExecutionWitness containing all necessary data for block validation without full state storage.
A standardized guest program then processes this witness to validate state transitions. Subsequently, a zkVM executes the program while a prover creates proof of correct execution. Consensus layer clients verify these proofs instead of calling execution clients to repeat computations.
Ethereum Foundation member ladislaus.eth described the transformation in a post explaining how proof verification changes the validation paradigm. “Instead of repeating the computation, you verify a cryptographic proof that someone else did it correctly. One proof. Compact. Constant verification time regardless of what happened inside the block,” the post stated.
This approach contrasts sharply with current methods where every node re-executes every transaction independently.
EIP-8025 establishes the consensus layer mechanics enabling this transition. Proofs from different execution client implementations circulate through a dedicated peer-to-peer gossip network.
The specification modifies block processing to allow attesters to verify proofs rather than execute transactions directly.
A preliminary 3-of-5 threshold requires attesters to verify three out of five independent proofs before accepting a block’s execution as valid.
Benefits Across the Validator Ecosystem
Solo stakers and home validators receive the most direct operational improvements. The ladislaus.eth post noted that zkAttesters eliminate the need for full execution layer operation and state storage.
“A zkAttester does not need to hold EL state. It does not need to sync the full execution layer chain,” the explanation clarified. Syncing reduces to downloading proofs for recent blocks since the last finalization checkpoint.
The resource savings extend beyond basic operation. Current validators must run both consensus and execution clients, with the latter consuming significant storage, processing power, and bandwidth.
These requirements scale linearly with gas limit increases. Proof verification replaces this scaling burden with constant-time verification regardless of block activity levels.
Multiple stakeholders gain from this infrastructure shift. Execution client teams can develop implementations as proving targets within a standardized framework.
zkVM vendors including RISC Zero, openVM, and ZisK can build against clear interfaces while working on what could become the largest zero-knowledge application globally.
Layer-2 teams benefit from infrastructure convergence, as validator proof verification enables shared proving infrastructure for native rollups through an EXECUTE precompile.
Development Status and Dependencies
EIP-8025 has been integrated into the consensus-specs features branch for eventual inclusion consideration. The 2026 L1-zkEVM roadmap divides work across six sub-themes: execution witness and guest program standardization, zkVM-guest API standardization, consensus layer integration, prover infrastructure, benchmarking and metrics, and security with formal verification.
The system depends on ePBS (Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation) targeted for the Glamsterdam hardfork. Without ePBS, the proving window spans only 1-2 seconds, creating unrealistic constraints for real-time proof generation.
ePBS extends this window to 6-9 seconds through block pipelining, making single-slot proving feasible for production use.
Proving infrastructure remains under active discussion. The design assumes a 1-of-N liveness model where one honest prover maintains chain operation.
The ladislaus.eth post emphasized that “proving should remain viable outside of data centre infrastructure,” addressing concerns about centralization. Several zkVM vendors already prove Ethereum blocks, demonstrating technical feasibility ahead of protocol integration.
The February 11 workshop will address the full scope of development themes as teams move toward implementation.
Crypto World
24/7 Futures Trading for Modern Markets
Markets have modernized in almost every way—except one. Trading infrastructure has gone digital, execution is instantaneous, and information moves globally in real time. Yet most traditional markets still shut down on nights, weekends, and holidays.
This is where TradFi intersects with crypto-native infrastructure. Platforms like Phemex are narrowing that gap by listing TradFi futures—price-tracking contracts tied to assets such as gold and silver—on infrastructure built for continuous markets.
Spot trading vs futures contracts
Spot and futures markets work differently, and that difference explains why TradFi futures matter. Put simply, spot trading means you buy the asset itself at the current price, whereas a futures contract tracks price under contract terms rather than giving direct ownership.
In traditional spot trading, buying a share or commodity involves a complex chain of custody, legal ownership transfer, and T+2 settlement cycles. This infrastructure requires banks and clearinghouses to be open, which is why trading halts on weekends and holidays.
A futures contract is a derivative, an agreement based on the price of an asset, not the exchange of the asset itself. Because of this, there is no physical action or need for a transfer in the event of a closed exchange market.
When the market closes, only the conventional infrastructure ceases to function; assets retain their worth. Phemex fills this gap by delivering a marketplace where price discovery and risk management continue uninterrupted.
Macro News Don’t Wait for Monday
Traditional finance (TradFi) and cryptocurrency markets are increasingly moving in the same direction. As crypto trading has matured, digital asset prices have become more closely linked to macroeconomic indicators that have long driven equities and commodities.
Interest rate decisions by the U.S. Federal Reserve, inflation data, labor market reports, and geopolitical developments now influence both stock indices and major cryptocurrencies. This growing correlation has reshaped how traders think about risk, timing, and market access across asset classes.
The introduction of TradFi futures on crypto-native trading platforms allows traders to respond to macroeconomic developments in real time. Instead of waiting for traditional market hours, traders can hedge positions or manage volatility as events unfold—an approach that is increasingly central to modern risk management.
Whether it is hedging a position or capitalizing on volatility, the ability to execute trades based on real-time macro news is no longer a luxury,; it is a necessity for modern risk management.
Why TradFi Futures Matter for 24/7 Market Access
The 24/7 openness of markets, remaining functional even during holidays and non-working days, is not merely a new generation innovation; it represents the natural evolutionary progression of trading. In the traditional financial world, when the market is closed, uncertainty and suspense tend to take hold.
If a major event occurs over the weekend, traditional investors face significant gap risk, where the price jumps or drops substantially between Friday’s close and Monday’s open.
Through TradFi futures trading found on Phemex, traders can manage their positions at any time, day or night. This eliminates the waiting game that often leaves investors vulnerable to global news cycles that do not stop for bank holidays.
Unified Trading Across Crypto and TradFi Futures on a Single Platform
Phemex focuses on reducing the liquidity and access friction typical of traditional markets.
The platform offers USDT-settled derivatives linked to traditional assets such as gold, silver, and selected stocks, alongside crypto derivatives. This structure allows traders to access multiple asset classes from a single account, without opening separate brokerage relationships or navigating lengthy funding and settlement processes.
(USDT-settled derivatives mean that profits and losses are settled in USDT rather than through delivery of the underlying asset.)
Phemex operates a unified margin system, enabling the same USDT balance to be used across gold, silver, and crypto futures. Because these contracts track price rather than involve physical settlement, custody and operational complexity are reduced.
As with cryptocurrency perpetual contracts, TradFi futures can be traded with leverage, allowing traders to increase exposure and improve capital efficiency without committing the full notional amount typically required by traditional brokers. Historically, access to equities or commodities—whether via direct ownership, ETFs, or futures—often required substantial upfront capital and fragmented infrastructure.
As demand grows for continuous market access and more flexible risk management, crypto-native platforms are increasingly addressing these structural limitations. Phemex positions itself within this shift by offering infrastructure designed for continuous, multi-asset trading.
The Modern Market Is Open 24/7
Market evolution is no longer a question of if, but how. As crypto and traditional assets increasingly respond to the same macro forces, their separation at the infrastructure level has started to break down.
The objective isn’t to replicate stock exchanges on crypto platforms. It’s to build faster, more flexible systems that allow traders to access traditional asset exposure with the efficiency they expect from modern markets.
Phemex is approaching this by replacing ownership friction with futures-based access. By using price-tracking contracts rather than physical settlement, traditional assets can be traded alongside crypto within a unified, USDT-settled environment.
Moving into the second quarter of 2026, trading across asset classes from a single margin currency is no longer a differentiator; it’s becoming the baseline for how modern markets operate.
As part of the launch of its TradFi futures offering, Phemex has introduced a limited-time campaign aimed at familiarizing traders with the new product. The campaign includes a temporary zero-fee trading period, loss-protection incentives for first trades, trading leaderboards, and task-based rewards. The initiative is designed to support early adoption and allow traders to explore TradFi futures within a controlled, risk-aware framework.
Crypto World
Monero Price Crash To Continue As $150 Risk Builds?
The Monero price is down about 2% over the past 24 hours and nearly 31% over the past month. Since peaking near $799 in mid-January, XMR has already fallen more than 65%. A rebound followed the drop to $276, pushing the price back toward the $330 area. At first glance, this looked like stabilization after heavy selling.
But a closer look tells a different story.
Bear Flag and Moving Averages Show the Downtrend Is Still Intact
On the daily chart, Monero is trading inside a bear flag structure.
A bear flag forms when the price drops sharply and then moves sideways or slightly higher in a narrow range. This pattern usually represents a pause before another decline, not a trend reversal. In XMR’s case, the fall from $799 to $276 created the flagpole. The recent XMR price consolidation is forming a flag.
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As long as the price remains inside this range, the dominant trend stays bearish. A breakdown below the lower boundary would likely trigger another major leg lower.
Trend indicators are reinforcing this view.
Exponential moving averages, or EMAs, are weighted price averages that give more importance to recent data. They help identify whether momentum is strengthening or weakening. When shorter-term EMAs fall below longer-term EMAs, it signals deteriorating trend strength.
Right now, Monero’s 50-day EMA is moving toward the 100-day EMA. At the same time, the 20-day EMA is drifting toward the 200-day EMA.
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These developing bearish crossovers suggest that short-term momentum continues to weaken relative to the broader trend. If these looming crossovers confirm while the XMR price flirts with the lower trendline of the flag, the breakdown theory would likely get validated.
Spot Flows Show Rebounds Are Being Used to Exit, Not Accumulate?
Exchange flow data reveals how investors are behaving during this consolidation.
In early February, Monero briefly showed strong outflows (buying pressure). During the week ending February 2, net outflows reached about $7.1 million. This suggested that some buyers were stepping in after the crash.
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But this support faded quickly.
By the week ending February 9, flows flipped to net inflows of around $768,000. More XMR was moving back onto exchanges than leaving them. This shift happened while the price dipped to $276 and then rebounded to the $327 zone.
This tells an important story. As soon as the price bounced, selling possibly resumed. Instead of holding for a recovery, many investors possibly used the rebound to reduce exposure. Loss exits replaced by accumulation.
When outflows turn into inflows during consolidation, it usually signals distribution. Supply is returning to the market. Without steady spot demand, rallies struggle to survive. This also explains why recent recoveries have been shallow. Buyers are not strong enough to absorb the returning supply.
With spot demand fading, the burden shifts to derivatives traders. But derivatives data show growing caution.
Falling Open Interest and Weak Funding Limit the XMR Recovery Potential
Derivatives markets provide insight into trader confidence and leverage. Open interest measures the total value of active futures contracts. Rising open interest shows that traders are building positions. Falling open interest shows that traders are closing positions and stepping away.
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In mid-January, Monero’s open interest stood near $279 million. By February 10, it had dropped to around $110 million. This represents a decline of more than 60%.
Such a sharp drop indicates that leverage is leaving the market. Traders are reducing risk rather than preparing for a major rebound.
At the same time, funding rates remain mildly positive. Funding rates reflect the cost traders pay to hold futures positions. When funding is positive, long traders are dominant. When it is negative, short traders dominate.
XMR’s funding remains slightly positive, meaning most remaining traders still lean bullish. But without rising open interest, this bias lacks conviction.
This combination is weak. Fewer traders are participating, yet optimism has not fully reset. It also limits the chance of a short squeeze. A short squeeze requires heavy bearish positioning. Without that pressure, upside accelerations are unlikely.
With leverage shrinking and spot buyers hesitant, the price lacks fuel for sustained recovery.
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Why $150 Is Becoming Key Target for the Monero Price
With technical, spot, and derivatives signals aligned, downside levels become increasingly important.
The first major support sits near $314. This area aligns with recent lows and the lower boundary of the bear flag. A decisive break below it would likely confirm continuation lower.
If $314 fails, downside opens quickly.
The next major demand zone is near $150, according to a key Fibonacci retracement level. A move from current levels toward $150 would represent another drop of more than 50%, consistent with the size of the first decline.
Below $150, deeper levels such as $114 and $88 exist. But $150 stands out as the first major zone where long-term buyers may realistically reappear, thanks to its psychological significance. That is why it has become the primary downside reference point.
For now, Monero remains trapped between weak demand and persistent supply. The bear flag shows consolidation, not recovery. Spot flows show selling, not accumulation. Open interest shows retreat, not confidence. Funding shows optimism without commitment.
To weaken and invalidate the bearish pattern, the Monero price must close above $350 and $532, respectively, on a daily candle close.
Crypto World
LMAX unveils new exchange to break the wall down between crypto and FX
Institutional crypto exchange provider LMAX Group has unveiled Omnia Exchange, designed to allow users to seamlessly convert FX, crypto, stablecoins and other digital assets in one platform, the company said on Tuesday.
Described as a “a unified multi-asset infrastructure layer,” Omnia allows users to trade any asset directly against any other 24/7, without restrictions on size or type, and to settle on traditional rails or instantly on the blockchain, according to a press release.
LMAX’s cryptocurrency-focused business has long been a major player when it comes to institutional crypto trading, reporting $8.2 trillion in institutional volume last year.
Whereas LMAX Digital is an institutional crypto execution venue and custodian, focused on crypto-FX pairs, Omnia aims to bring FX, crypto, stablecoins and other digital assets under one roof, allowing any asset to be traded directly against any other (not just crypto vs fiat), a spokesperson for LMAX said via email.
LMAX CEO David Mercer said Omnia “crosses the rubicon” between traditional markets and digital marketplaces.
“Omnia Exchange is the foundation for a new paradigm in capital markets delivering the ability for institutions to exchange any asset, anytime, anywhere,” Mercer said in a statement. “By opening access to wholesale FX and digital asset markets globally, we’re removing barriers, reducing friction and unlocking liquidity. Institutions can exchange value as simply as sending a message, creating hyper-efficient capital.”
A recent deal between LMAX Group and Ripple to integrate the latter’s RLUSD reflects broader momentum behind stablecoins as tools for institutional market access, not just crypto-native use.
Crypto World
Ripple (XRP) Price Predictions for This Week
Let’s have a look at some numbers and try to understand where is the XRP price headed this week.
XRP returns above $1.4, but can it hold there?
Ripple (XRP) Price Predictions: Analysis
Key support levels: $1.4, $1
Key resistance levels: $1.6
XRP Price Reclaims $1.4
After the massive drop last Thursday, XRP recovered somewhat and returned above the support at $1.4. If this key level holds, buyers could retest the $1.6 resistance level in the future. Any failure there could see the price resume its downtrend.
Sellers Dominate
A review of the volume shows that sellers have been dominating since late December on the weekly chart. Worst, the selling volume has accelerated in early February, showing no signs of a change. However, increased sales volume could be the first step towards finding a bottom.
Daily RSI Bounces from Oversold Area
During the crash last week, the daily RSI reached 17 points, falling deep into the oversold area. Since then, this indicator snapped back above 30. As long as the daily RSI is under 50, the bias leans bearish.
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Crypto World
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Crypto News & Price Indexes
US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) extended a tentative rebound after attracting $371 million in net inflows last Friday, adding to signs that institutional demand may be stabilizing following weeks of sustained selling.
Spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs attracted a further $145 million in inflows on Monday as BTC hovered around $70,000, according to data from SoSoValue and CoinGecko.
The inflows have yet to offset last week’s $318 million of outflows and $1.9 billion in redemptions year-to-date, but the slowing pace of losses may point to a potential trend reversal for crypto investment products, according to CoinShares.
“Outflows slowed sharply to $187 million despite heavy price pressure, with the deceleration in flows historically signaling a potential inflection point,” CoinShares’ head of research, James Butterfill said in an update on Monday.
Early Bitcoin holders unfazed by institutional inflows, Bitwise says
Bitcoin’s growing institutional presence has not driven early investors out of the market, according to a senior executive at asset manager Bitwise, even as the ETF saw heavy outflows during the latest crypto sell-off that pushed BTC back toward October 2024 price levels.
Analysts at research firm Bernstein described the recent downturn as the “weakest bear case” in Bitcoin’s history, noting the absence of major industry failures typically associated with deeper crypto market stress.
Related: Only 10K Bitcoin at quantum risk and worth attacking, CoinShares claims
With no clear single catalyst behind the decline, some market watchers have linked the volatility to Bitcoin’s increasing institutionalization, including ETFs, and concerns that broader financialization could dilute the asset’s scarcity narrative.

Still, that shift has not meaningfully deterred early adopters, Bitwise chief investment officer Matt Hougan said in comments to Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas.
Hougan acknowledged that a “cypherpunk, libertarian OG core” of Bitcoin supporters may be uncomfortable with the growing influence of large asset managers such as BlackRock, but described that group as a “shrinking minority.”

Many early investors are instead taking partial profits after large gains rather than exiting the market altogether, he said, adding that most remain invested even as new institutional buyers enter the space.
“They invested a few thousand dollars and ended up with millions,” Hougan said, adding:
“The vast majority are still in it, and they’re being augmented by new institutional investors. I think the story that most of OG crypto is giving up on the space just doesn’t align with the people that we talk to with the investors that are working with Bitwise.”
In line with a rebound in Bitcoin ETFs, spot altcoin ETFs also posted gains on Monday, with Ether (ETH) and XRP (XRP) seeing inflows of $57 million and $6.3 million, respectively, according to SoSoValue data.
Magazine: Bitcoin difficulty plunges, Buterin sells off Ethereum: Hodler’s Digest, Feb. 1 – 7
Crypto World
South Korea launches probe Into Bithumb after $43B “fat-finger” Bitcoin blunder
South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) has escalated scrutiny of major cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb following an unprecedented operational mistake in which the firm accidentally credited customers with tens of billions of dollars’ worth of Bitcoin.
Summary
- South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) has launched a full-scale investigation into Bithumb following a massive $43 billion Bitcoin “fat-finger” error.
- The incident stemmed from an internal operational mistake that temporarily credited users with Bitcoin far exceeding the exchange’s actual holdings.
- Regulators are examining Bithumb’s internal controls and IT systems, with potential penalties possible if violations are confirmed.
The investigation follows a striking error on February 6, 2026, when Bithumb, during a routine promotional event, inadvertently distributed 620,000 Bitcoin, worth roughly $40 billion to $44 billion at market prices, to users instead of the intended small cash rewards.
The mishap stemmed from an employee inputting payouts in Bitcoin (BTC) units rather than Korean won, leading to an explosion of overissued Bitcoin credits before the mistake was detected.
What happened in the Bithumb mistake
In a “Random Box” promotion designed to reward users with modest cash amounts, Bithumb’s payout system mistakenly issued Bitcoin due to a unit entry error, resulting in the colossal overshoot.
Within minutes, hundreds of users found massive sums of Bitcoin in their accounts, equivalent to 13–14 times Bithumb’s actual BTC holdings based on industry estimates.
The exchange acted swiftly to freeze affected accounts and block trading and withdrawals within about 35 minutes, recovering the vast majority of the missent tokens. Still, a small portion, representing millions in value, was sold or withdrawn before the controls took effect.
FSS investigation and regulatory response
Initially launching an emergency review, the FSS escalated its examination to a full-scale formal investigation. Bithumb was notified of the probe signalling a deep dive into what went wrong and whether internal controls violated the Virtual Asset User Protection Act or other regulatory standards.
FSS Governor Lee Chan-jin has emphasized that the episode revealed systemic weaknesses in internal control and electronic ledger systems at the exchange. Regulators are examining how an exchange with far fewer actual reserves was able to record and disburse phantom Bitcoin balances so rapidly.
Depending on what investigators find, the probe could lead to sanctions against Bithumb, including fines or even suspension of operations if negligence or legal violations are confirmed. The FSS has also noted that users who sold erroneously credited Bitcoin may be legally obligated to return it as unjust enrichment under current interpretations of Korean law.
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